See the underwater crucifix that drew more than 2,000 to frozen Lake Michigan

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PETOSKEY, MI -- Despite brutal winds and frigid temperatures, more than 2,000 people stood on the icy top of Little Traverse Bay near Petoskey last weekend to view an underwater monument many may not know lies beneath the surface.

An underwater crucifix, dedicated to those who've lost their lives on the water, drew crowds on Saturday March 7, ranging from locals to international visitors, organizers said.

Dennis Jessick, working alongside his diving partner Rick Hoig, help to put on the event each year ever since the memorial's re-dedication in 1986. Nearly two decades later, Jessick said organizers finally met their attendance goals they dreamed of back when they first carved out a viewing station on water's frozen surface.

Beneath the surface of Little Traverse Bay lies a crucifix dedicated to memorializing those who've lost their lives on the water. The memorial, which has sat at it's current location since 1986, attracted a record number of visitors Saturday, March 7, according to organizers. Courtesy | Dennis Jessick

"This is the biggest event we've had to date by far," Jessick said. With viewers ranging from ardent community supporters to tourists from Brazil, Jessick said each demonstrated their personal motivations for attending.

"It becomes a very personal, emotional, almost mystical or religious experience for a lot of different people," he contended.

To view the memorial, Jessick said many stood in line for two and a half hours in the wind and cold.

As the daylight hours waned and with a record number of would-be attendees, several groups were even forced to turn away.

In order to prepare the memorial area for the public, Jessick said organizers spent more than two hours digging through 4 feet of ice. Once the ice was removed, viewers could peer through more than 20 feet of crystal clear water to see the crucifix resting below.

The crucifix, made of Italian marble and weighing more than 1,800 pounds, has suffered two broken arms since being moved to the depths of the bay.

Originally placed in much deeper waters off-shore, the memorial was moved in 1986 when Jessick served as president of the Little Traverse Bay Dive Club.

Since then, he and four or five other volunteers have made it their mission each winter to get the memorial viewable for non-divers. Though the memorial is an attraction for Michigan divers in the summer, winter viewing allows for a much clearer picture of the crucifix below, Jessick said.

RJ Wolcott is a reporter for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Contact him at 616-970-8881, or by email at rwolcott@mlive.com